Wonder Woman script review

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=48

WONDER WOMAN
Screenplay by Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland
Story by Matthew Jennison, Brent Strickland and Kevin Shawley
Based on the DC Comics characters created by William Moulton Marston
130 pages

OYE MIRA!

EL MAGNIFICO MOFACKIN’ MAYIMBE HERE!

Welcome to our Super Bowl Edition Superhero Spec Spotlight! The last time we did one of these was on Batman Begins.

But first about that J.J. Star Trek thing…

After all, I said it is just a rumor, but folks, as Public Enemy sang famously back in the days – DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE! That rumor is picking up steam in the business community here in Hollywood – hence why I reported it to Ronnie Adams. There is something really fishy going on over there on Melrose.

The trades say one thing, then the next day something else happens.

Case in point – WONDER WOMAN!

Warner Bros. buys this excellent spec script (which we will preview for you shortly) and says something along the lines of committing to Whedon’s contemporary version, then the very next day Whedon is off the project!

Just like I suspected. Why would you take a spec off the market when you own the rights already? I never bought this protection from liability jibberish that the trades were spoon-feeding us.

See why you can never trust the trades! See la comemierderia!

My goodness it is Black Superhero Friday or what? First Whedon is off Wonder Woman, and now David Goyer is off The Flash!

Que carajo is going on over there in Burbank?

Anyway, in regards to Wonder Woman – the spec that Silver picked up ROCKS!
A fun filled adventure packed girl power action movie in the 1940s!

1943 to be exact. Just where this character belongs.

Now I know ya’ll are not here to hear my rants in colloquial Spanglish so let’s get to it and preview the first act.

We open with QUEEN HIPPOLYTE and her THREE THOUSAND AMAZON WARRIORS all clad in battle armor and bracelets.

We pull back even further and FIFTY THOUSAND MEN, all armed for war, advance on the Amazon.

In VOICEOVER HIPPOLYTE tells us that they were created to guard against the evils of the world. Strong, wise, and compassionate, Hera gave breath to the AMAZON. In the ancient days, they lived among Mankind…but Man fears what it cannot control. Man sought to take the power of the Amazon but doing so would have destroyed Man’s World.

Hippolyte erupts in a battle cry and the Amazon charge forward, meeting the army of man head on.

The action is fierce. The Amazon are superior warriors, but the numbers of Man’s army are too great and the Amazon take heavy casualties.

Hippolyte further tell us that to protect the world from such devastation they would do anything. Even flee.

We next see Hippolyte leading twenty Amazon ships into the open ocean. An Armada is in hot pursuit. She further tells us that they sailed forth without a destination, guided only by their faith.

Hera heard her prayers.

Hippolyte steers her ships toward a Heavenly star and the Amazon make it past the storm, which engulfs man’s ships towards – THEMYSCIRA. Hippolyte finishes her voiceover by telling us that Themyscira has been The Amazon’s home for three thousand years, a place where they could live in peace, hidden from the world of man.

After the credit sequence over a montage of military imagery showing the history of mankind’s warfare growing even deadlier, we open in 1943 Germany and meet

STEVE TREVOR (30)

A tall, handsome son of a senator but made it on his own American in a Nazi SS disguise, snaps photos of Nazi Jet blueprints that look incredibly advanced for the 1940s.
The words “AMERIKA BOMBER” and FLEISCHER GESELLSCHAFT” appear on the bottom of each design. Steve discovers that the Nazis are going to bomb Washington D.C. and New York.

Steve’s cover is blown and gets chased by the Nazis. He makes it to the Nazi hangar and steals a Nazi jet, which looks more like a stealth bomber than a WWII era plane. It’s the Amerika Bomber from the blueprints.

He navigates it out of there as the Nazis open fire on the jet. He flies over the Ocean and is leaking fuel. He makes it through the clouds and head towards a tropical island.

THEMYSCIRA.

A majestic city hugs the coastline and stretches up into the mountains. Its architecture is a mix of Greek Temples and Elaborate Towers standing watch over the gleaming streets.

A huge coliseum stands in the center of the city, its rim decorated with statues of the Grecian gods.

We descend into a long street-level tunnel that empties into the arena floor. At the end of the tunnel we see the silhouette of a young woman – DIANA.

She takes a deep breath and places a helmet overhead obscuring her face before we see it. She enters the coliseum and wears a black skirt of leather strips and a GOLDEN BREASTPLATE with the form of an eagle, wings spread. Her bodice and leather boots are both DARK RED.

Thousands of Amazons in colorful robes fill the stands. A cheer rises as the red Amazon warrior moves to the center of the ring, where another masked Amazon waits, and this one in dark green – she is PHILLIPUS.

Four challengers remain to determine the strongest and best suited to find their sister, GALINA. Hera’s choice will soon be revealed.

We then get some super cool girl on girl gladiator action – DIANA VS PHILLIPUS.

It is no secret who wins. Then we get WHITE (ARTEMIS) vs BLUE (ODIA).

Artemis wins, then gets disqualified from the final round and doesn’t fight Diana.

Diana, her face still covered, kneels before Hippolyte on the coliseum floor and has proven herself the greatest warrior of the Amazon. Now it is her duty to return to Man’s world and find Galina.

She removes her helmet and for the first time we see her. She is barely twenty; she’s beautiful, with long black hair and just like her mother – HIPPOLYTE.
Hippolyte has a fit. She forbade Diana from partaking in the contest. Hippolyte orders her to go to the palace.

Steve meanwhile crashes into a forested park in Themyscira. Diana runs into Steve and they meet. Diana saves Steve’s life and frees him the wreckage. Steve then gets arrested by the Amazon. Hippolyte and her entourage appear on a hover chariot.

Hippolyte takes Diana on the hover chariot. Here we learn that Galina was sent to Man’s world to ensure that Pandora’s Box is secure but she apparently went missing hence the contest for an Amazon warrior to go find Galina. Phillipus, who Diana beat in the contest, is going to man’s world to find Galina much to the dismay of Diana. Mother and daughter get into an argument.

Steve is taken to the Senate Hall. Hippolyte puts the GOLDEN ROPE around Steve and he tells the truth. The Amazon doesn’t believe him, they think man captured Galina and stole the Amazon technology. Steve is sentenced by the senate to death.

We then find out that the Amazons protect the key – a crystal that hangs on Hippolyte’s neck. If man came into possession of Pandora’s box and the key - it would be catastrophic.

Diana rescues Steve from his cell. She also steals a GOLDEN BELT – the belt of Aphrodite, which allows an Amazon to walk in disguise among men. Diana also steals a GOLDEN ROPE – Hestia’s Golden Lasso, which is unbreakable and any whom it binds, must speak the truth.

Diana and Steve make their getaway from Themyscira on you guessed it – THE INVISBLE JET.

Diana controls the jet with the GOLD TIARA with RUBY STAR on it. It resembles Hippolyte’s crown but is shaped to lie flat across the forehead.

On page 34 – Steve and Diana race out of Themyscira – cross the first threshold – and head back to Washington.

End Act 1

Like I said, the script rocks. We of course get Diana repelling Nazi bullets with her bracelets and she beats the **** out of Nazi bad guys by the dozens. She has the strength of ten men.

For those fans concerned about her outfit – no worries.

When she finally makes her debut as Wonder Woman on page 86, her Wonder Woman outfit is a combination of her Amazon battle gear and the American flag, the costume we all know as Wonder Woman but slightly more combat ready. SHE LOOKS HOT!
The first part of the 2nd half of Act 2 (the test, allies, and enemies stage) takes place in Washington and of course Nazi bad guys (to good effect in this script) and double agents – Threshold Guardians – keep Steve and Diana busy.

The 2nd part of Act 2 takes place in Berlin as Diana and Steve intensify their search for Galina.

The 3rd Act and battle royale finale takes place back on Themyscira as the Amazons and their hover chariots fight a fleet of the Nazi Amerika Bombers as the main villain, who is revealed late in the game (which I won’t spoil) goes all out for the key on Hippolyte’s neck. The 3rd act is wall-to-wall action.

Overall, a very great read. The writers did their homework. As a comic book character origin movie - it is just as good as Batman Begins.

I can see why Silver supposedly took it off the spec market. If I was a betting man, I figure this is the origin story that Warners might stick with. My note to the studio is to not touch the script, leave it intact, get yourself a good director and shoot this script. It is all there on the page.

Spec Screenwriting 101

My only beef with the script, which could have shaved 10-15 pages off the thing, is the overuse of CONTINUED at the top and bottom of the script, which is OFF LIMITS in a spec, and the use of German dialogue then it’s subtitled English counterpart. When you write any language, either below the character’s name, or as in vogue today, next to the character’s name – use a parenthesis (in German, with English subtitles) then the English dialogue. It is a waste of space and lines and supremely redundant to include foreign dialogue, which a reader can’t understand anyway only to translate it right after. Damn noobies. Read David Trottier’s books! One of my pet peeves about specs. I **** you not, I know readers who pass on bad screenplay format no matter how good the story is.

Anyway, who do you guys pick as Wonder Woman?

My top choice would have to be Rachel McAdams and then Jessica Biel second.

I think the role of Hippolyte, Diana’s mother, is tailor written for Catherine Zeta Jones.

Check back real soon to see my next spec script spotlight by a very famous writer/director. He is some guy who heard voices.

Until then, enjoy the game!

In the meantime, I am looking for the following scripts – RUG EATER by Miguel Arteta, and John Ridley’s L.A. RIOTS. You got ‘em? Email me.

HASTA EL PROXIMO CAPITULO…

…YO SOY EL MAYIMBE!

 

[emi]

as the main villain, who is revealed late in the game (which I won’t spoil)

Nazi Baroness Paula Von Gunther: 'nuff said!

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Great read, great find

I´m 50/50 on this one.
It starts good, it starts really good, but then falls in what reviewer calls a "fun filled adventure", and comic books deserve way more than that.

The all "argument between mother and daughter", "Hippolyte has a fit" and all that jazz, sounds really bad to me.
The Amazons are, above all, warriors, which means that Hippolyte should be proud and supportive, not forbiding her to get in the contest and all that.
Hippolyte was never like that in the comics.
Then, the all "in search for Galina and the pandora´s box" sounds....ehhh.

 

[Kebab gud]

if its real then its a true epic with a LOTR style opening scene..

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Wow finally something that is not afraid to be a comic book...great

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Waiting to read the script myself. I don't trust this El Mayimbe guy.

 

[Philly Phanboy]

It sounds promising but having the movie based in WWII might work against it.

 

[Mister J]

I rather the film wasn't a period piece, but I liked what I read of the characterizations.

 

[ultimatefan]

Let´s not make judgemente based on things described generically, it´s how it´s executed that makes it work or not. I don´t mind it being a fun-filled adventure, given that apparently it maintains all the core ingredients of the comic book. It actually sounds very promising. At the very least it feels like these guys did their homework, while Whedom kept giving evasive answers like "there´s not a definitive comics version, I was never a fan", etc.

 

[CConn]

Wow, I've gotta say, that sounds pretty fantastic. Especially since I'm a big fan of both Greek culture and WW2 history.

I, like most, would've preferred, and expected, a Wonder Woman movie taking place in modern times, but, at the same time, there's a certain...majesty that goes with period pieces. While it hasn't happened yet, I'd go crazy for a Batman movie set in the Noir-ish '40s, a Spider-Man movie set in the '60s, etc.

There's just something special about the decades these great characters were created in, and this script seems to highlight all the great things about Wonder Woman, Greek Mythology, and the time period of the '40s.

From the sounds of that review, I would be perfectly happy if Silver left it exactly the way it was, went out and got a good director, and made a great movie out of it. It's made me more excited about a Wonder Woman movie than I've ever been.

 

[ultimatefan]

Wow, I've gotta say, that sounds pretty fantastic. Especially since I'm a big fan of both Greek culture and WW2 history.

I, like most, would've preferred, and expected, a Wonder Woman movie taking place in modern times, but, at the same time, there's a certain...majesty that goes with period pieces. While it hasn't happened yet, I'd go crazy for a Batman movie set in the Noir-ish '40s, a Spider-Man movie set in the '60s, etc.

There's just something special about the decades these great characters were created in, and this script seems to highlight all the great things about Wonder Woman, Greek Mythology, and the time period of the '40s.

From the sounds of that review, I would be perfectly happy if Silver left it exactly the way it was, went out and got a good director, and made a great movie out of it. It's made me more excited about a Wonder Woman movie than I've ever been.

Yeah, actually it´s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Batman 89 at times felt like it was a thirties noir film, even though it was actually a mix of periods.

 

[Lestat74]

I have to admit that doesn't sound awful, although I hope it's not just a fun period romp ala The Mummy or Sky Captain. I hope they inject some nuance and metaphor and pathos into this. More than anything, that's what I was looking forward to in Joss Whedon's version. I hope those things are not forgotten in favor of just popcorn theatrics. I seriously hope they get a decent director if they do in fact go forward with this, and not just a Brett Ratner/Tim Story style studio puppet. Please Joel Silver, get someone with vision, who will actually argue with you sometimes and win. *Crosses Fingers*

 

[ultimatefan]

I have to admit that doesn't sound awful, although I hope it's not just a fun period romp ala The Mummy or Sky Captain. I hope they inject some nuance and metaphor and pathos into this. More than anything, that's what I was looking forward to in Joss Whedon's version. I hope those things are not forgotten in favor of just popcorn theatrics. I seriously hope they get a decent director if they do in fact go forward with this, and not just a Brett Ratner/Tim Story style studio puppet. Please Joel Silver, get someone with vision, who will actually argue with you sometimes and win. *Crosses Fingers*

Even though it´s described in generic terms, it definitely doesn´t feel like the tone is too cheesy. The reviewer compared the feel of the script to Batman Begins.

 

[The Guard]

They seem to have gotten the obvious stuff right, but they fall into "moviemaking cliche" quite a bit per this review. What the hell is The Key? Is there a reason Diana can't just protect the world from, you know, evil? Still, it has potential. One wonders what Joss Whedon's script was like. My guess is "too expensive".

 

[CConn]

Even though it´s described in generic terms, it definitely doesn´t feel like the tone is too cheesy. The reviewer compared the feel of the script to Batman Begins.

To me, it didn't sound as dark as BB, but it certainly seemed to be very well refined, done in a very classy way for a period piece.

My guess is "too expensive".

Really? This script sounds pretty expensive as well.

 

[GNR]

That opening scene sounds great.This film needs to be epic and I think should really portray WW as a warrior,instead of a chick in tights.

Period piece,yay!

 

[GNR]

I hope the outfit is similar to the New Frontier version,that was perfect.

 

[The Guard]

Did anyone really think WONDER WOMAN would portray Wonder Woman as a chick in tights?

This does sound expensive, but it's generally more ROCKETEER-style expensive and not so much "BATMAN BEGINS" expensive. I'm not a huge Wonder Woman aficionado, is Galina from the comics?

Could she be a version of Circe? Cause that'd be kinda cool.

 

[DarthCyclopsRLZ]

Huh. Sounds like fun, actually.

Well what do you know.

 

[CConn]

I hope the outfit is similar to the New Frontier version,that was perfect.

That would be a perfect style for the movie.

 

[GNR]

I mean,I can't see any other way.The starbranded bikini would just look silly,no matter who is wearing it.

 

[crazy monkey]

One wonders what Joss Whedon's script was like. My guess is "too expensive".

My guess would be the opposite -- not 'expensive' enough. In other words, smaller and more character driven, whereas the WB obviously want a bigger spectacle film. I say, go for it. Comics are supposed to be fun, dammit! Have we learned nothing from the nineties, or are half of you just too young to remember? Not every comic book has to be dark and drab and full of itself. Batman was interpreted as a very grounded, emotional movie rather than an action-packed extravaganza. All well and good. It's dark and intense and has just a touch of whimsy and adventure. It fits.

That's not what I want from a Wonder Woman film. She's an ultrahot, kick-ass, half-goddess gladiator. Sure, she's torn in her loyalty to two cultures. Sure, she's the little mermaid who wants the safety of home but is drawn to the wonder of the modern world. Sure, I'd love to see her written as a real woman and not just some flippant, wise-cracking, whiny Whedongirl. But mostly, I want to see a DC flick that opens the throttle wide and guns it! Gimme a true geek-out adraneline rush, one that so far I've only felt watching Spidey battle Doc Ock, Nightcrawler Bamf around the White House or Wolverine slaughter Stryker's army like sheep. (Well, there were a couple of great moments in Begins, sure, but nothing that wild.)

Y'know, the movie that a Superman relaunch should have been.

-- END!

 

[spider-neil]

that script sounds fantastic, is this the version they are going with as opposed to whedon's vision?

 

[CConn]

We really don't know at the moment. Silver's said before that he was against a period piece. Some are taking that to mean that this script will be rewritten to fit into modern times, but I don't quite buy that, myself.

 

[DarthCyclopsRLZ]

Am guessing Whedon's had less action and more character development...

But considering how it didn't turn out that well financially with Supes, well...